Apparatus for use in winding threads and the like



June5, 1945- M. l.. HuDsoN y 2,377,784

APPARATUS FOR USE IN WINDING THREADS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 8 1942 Patented June l5, 1945 2,377,784 -APPAaATUs Foa USE 1N wiNmNG THRE Ans AND THE. LIKE Moulton L. Hudson, Enka, N. C., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. C., a corporation/of Delaware Application December 8, 1942, Serial No. 468,273

` 1o claims. ('01. 24e- 18)4 The present invention relates to an apparatus for winding threads and the vlikeand more par- A ticularly to a simplified thread guide mounting for use on a reciprocating traverse member.

In collecting threads such as rayon on rotating collecting devices, for example, driven bobbins, spools, etc., it is necessary to guide the thread back and forthacross the face of the collector in order to build up a package of controlled configuration. The guiding of the threads is usually accomplished by means of a traverse member which carries thereon a number of thread guides, corresponding to the `number of collectors, and which reciprocates axially of the latter. Thread guides, in the past, have been mounted on the traverse members by means of nut and bolt right angle to t ebody portion of the guide and is received imnd supportedbmra bearing I5. The bearing I side I6 anl a horizontal reinforcing side II. This' member is mounted for reciprocation axially of the bobbin by any suitable means not shown. The. bearing I5 is'screw-threaded on one end and affixed to the traverse member by means of, a nut I8. lIn one form of the invention, the other end of the bearing l5 is provided with a shoulder I9 which is urged against the vertical assemblies including locking washers, collars,

etc.; and if they are mounted for movement in a direction transverse to the axis of the collector then the guides must bemovably supported in a bearing and locked therein to prevent displacement.

It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide an improved thread guide,` of simple construction which may -be removably mounted on a traverse member andlocked for the guide is in member and retained in position solely by means of a projection on the shank portion which contacts a part of the traverse member to prevent withdrawal from the bearing; and hence obviating the necessity for the usual lockingdmeehanisms. l

Other objects and advantages will be apparent when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in partial section of a guide locked to a traverse member in accordance with one form ofthis invention the positions thereof with respect to a collector being illustrated;

Figure 2 shows in elevation the guide of Figure 1 in its locked position;

Figure 3 shows in elevation the guide of Figure 1 in unlocked position. i. e., rotated 90 in order to remove the same from its bearing, and Figure 4 illustrates a Imodified form of the invention showing the projection on the guide riding in a slot in the traverse member.

Referring to the' drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, the thread guide indicated generally at I0 is formed with a U-shaped thread guiding end adapted to contact a rotating bobbin |2 and to be reciprocatecl across the surface thereof to lay up thread I3 as it is collected in package form. The thread guide I0 is provided with a shank, portion Il extending at a ing I5.

Inthe modification shown in Figure 4, the bearing 22 acts only to support the thread guide I0. In this form 'the shoulder 23 also holds the bearing in a rigid position on tightening the nut I8. The traverse member consists of a vertical side 24 similar in shape and function to side I6, and -a horizontal side 25 which reinforces the traverse member and also acts to lock the projection 2| and prevent displacement of the guide IU. For this purpose a slot 26 is provided in the horizontal side 25 and when the guide l0 is in operative position the projection 2| rides in the said slot.

It will be readily seen that in order to mount the guide. it can be turned to a horizontal position and the shank portion inserted in the bearing (see Figure 3). Qn turning the guide 90 in a direction to cause ,the -projection to engage the flange 0r slot on the traverse member, the guide will be locked against withdrawal from the bearing. Accordingly, the guide will move with the traverse member, i. e., in an axial direction of the bobbin. However, as in the present case, where a so-called suspended following guide is employed in which the traverse member overlies the bobbin and the suspended guide contacts the package throughout the Winding period, it is freely movable in an arcuate path transversely of the axis of the bobbin. It is also contemplated to use the present invention for following guides mounted on traverse members reciprocating axially below the collecting device. In this instance also, the guide is freely movable in a direction transverse tov the axis of the collecting device.

In cases where the guide is to be used on traverse members and held in spaced relation with is supported4 in turn by an L- Ashaped trav rse member consisting of a vertical respect to the collecting device throughout the winding period, then obstructions can be appropriately positioned on the traverse member to prevent any substantial movement of the guide.

This invention is not to be limited to any specific application as it is well within the purview hereof to utilize the hereindescribed simpliiied` thread guide mounting in'many types of traverse mechanisms; and the form of the thread guide per se is not material. It is intended to cover the broad conception of removably attaching a thread guide to a support by providing a means on the `like comprising a collecting device, a traverse member reciprocating lengthwise thereof and a rigid, integral thread guide removably attached to said traverse member adapted to reciprocate therewith. the improvement which comprises means constituting part of the thread guide and coacting means on the traverse member to automatically lock the thread guide thereto, and effect longitudinal movement therewith, only when said guide is in operative position.

2. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like comprising a collecting device, a traverse member reciprocating lengthwise thereof and a rigid, integral thread guide removably attached to said traverse member adapted to reciprocate therewith, the improvement which comprises a projection on the thread guide remote from the thread contactingend and means on the traverse member adapted to engage the projection only when said guide is in operative position.

3. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like comprising a collecting device, a traverse member reciprocating lengthwise thereof and a rigid, integral thread guide removably attached to said traverse member adapted to reciprocate therewith, the improvement which comprises a projection on the thread guide remote from the thread contacting end, and a flange on the traverse member adapted to engage the projection only when the thread guide is in operative position to thereby lock the same for longitudinal movement with the traverse member.

4. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like comprising a collecting device, a traverse member reciprocating lengthwise thereof and a rigid, integral thread guide removably attached to said traverse member adapted to reciprocate therewith. the improvement which comprises a projection on the thread guide remote from the thread contacting end adapted to ride in a slot in the traverse member only when said guide is in operative position.

5. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like comprising a collecting device, a traverse member reciprocating lengthwise thereof and a rigid," integral thread guide removably attached to said traverse member adapted to reciprocate therewith, the improvement which comprises means constituting part of the thread guide coacting with a flange on the traverse member to automatically lock the thread guide thereto, and effect longitudinal movement therewith, only when said guide is in operative position.

6. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like comprising a driven bobbin and a traverse member reciprocating lengthwise thereof, a rigid,

integral thread guide carried by said traverse member and removably attached thereto to reciprocate with the traverse member when in operating position, said guide being freely movable in an arc in a direction transverse to the axis of the bobbin to traverse the thread while the guide is in contact with the package as it is formed, and means for locking the guide to the traverse member only when the guide is in operative position.

'7. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like comprising a driven bobbin and a traverse member overlying the same and reciprocating lengthwise thereof, a thread guide pivotally suspended from said member to reciprocate with the same when in operating position and freely m'vable longitudinally thereof adapted to contact the bobbin during the winding operation and means on the guide and traverse member coacting to lock the guide to effect unitanwmovement lengthwise of the bobbin only when said guide is in operative position.

8. In an apparatus for winding threads and the like wherein a longitudinally reciprocating traverse member carrying a thread guide is employed, the improvement which comprises a bearing in the traverse member for receiving a shank portion of the guide, a projection constituting part of the shank portion and means on the traverse member to engage theprojection when the guide is in operative position to thereby prevent displacement of the guide with respect to the traverse member.

9. In apparatus for winding thread or the like including a rotating bobbin, a traverse member movable lengthwise thereof and a thread guide mounted on said traverse member for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to that ofthe bobbin, a projection on said thread guide extending radially of its axis of rotation, traverse member supported means defining a socket adapted to receive said projection to hold said thread guide against displacement in the direction of its axis, said socket extending for less than 360 about the axis of said guide whereby the latter may be quickly detached from the traverse member by rotation to a position in which the projection is out of registry with the socket and free axial movement is possible.

10. In apparatus for winding thread or the like including a rotating bobbin, a traverse member movable lengthwise thereof and a thread guide mounted on said traverse member for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to that of the bobbin, means defining a socket, means deining a complementary projection, one of said means being supported by said traverse member in a position radial of the axis of said thread guide and the other being supported by the thread guide radially of its axis, said means being of a sizey and position to lie in axial registry through a sector of a magnitude corresponding at least to the normal angular displacement of the guide in use, whereby in normal position of the guide it is locked against Yaxial displacement by said registering means while the guide may be detached from the traverse member by angular movement beyond its normal position to relatively move said means out of registry.

MOULTON L. HUDSON. 

